Mercado says he delivered money to Binays ‘numerous times

Vice President Jejomar Binay (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado revealed on Thursday that, for numerous times, he delivered locked duffel bags containing bundles of millions of pesos for the family of then Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

The former vice mayor also said that the duffel bags which were marked “J,” “G” and “E” were used by then mayor and now Vice President Binay for his personal needs and for his campaign for the vice presidency during the 2010 elections.

Mercado, who testified before the senate, said the bags were filled with some P1.5 million to P10 million in cash.

He even added that the money, which came from 13-percent of the contracts for the city’s projects,  were kickbacks from the infrastructure projects of the Makati City government.

Mercado also specifically described which bag was for each of the Binays. According to him, the J bag was for then Councilor and now Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, the G bag for his father’s finance officer, Gerry Limlingan, and the E bag for his longtime trusted secretary, Ebeng Baloloy.

To unlock the bags which also contained list of contractors, projects and the amount of money they gave, a combination is sent via text message from the trusted aide of Binay and former city engineer Nelson Morales, according to Mercado.

He added that Binay was there as he personally delivered the bags to him and to his son at the latter’s office or at their house on Caong Street, or in the mayor’s office.

Mercado said that the office has a secret door only accessible to a few trusted employees.

“The person carrying my bag stops at the door and will put down the bag. I’m the only one who enters the office. If Junjun or Mr. Limlingan is there, I will give them the bags, but the mayor (Vice President Binay) is also there,” he said.

“He (Vice President Binay) knows what the bags contain,” he added. “I will only say, ‘Sir, this is the one for Junjun. Kuya (Limlingan), this is for our campaign,” Mercado added.